Ranchi, May 18: In a major development, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has proposed to the state government to take over the ailing Patratu Thermal Power Station (PTPS), the state’s oldest electricity generating unit having an installed capacity of 840MW, in Ramgarh district.

Insiders said that according to the NTPC proposal, the power major has proposed a complete take over of all the 10 units of PTPS and undertake renovation and modernisation and also improve upon its operating efficiency. The power major has proposed to use the available vacant lands at PTPS to set up an additional generating units.

Apart from undertaking a complete turnaround of PTPS and raising plant efficiency up to 98 per cent, NTPC has offered to undertake community development programmes in the entire area. State energy secretary, Aditya Swarup said a proposal to this effect has been received from NTPC.

“The proposal is currently pending with the state government for a final decision in the matter. We will be in a position to comment on the issue only after a concrete decision is taken by the state government,” Swarup told The Telegraph.

The issue of handing over Patratu thermal to NTPC has been in the air over the past three years.